Greater Noida to go greener in revised master plan

GREATER NOIDA: The greenery in Greater Noida will increase if the city implements a new master plan that it has drafted.

The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority is gearing up to implement the environment management plan (EMP), a comprehensive environment-friendly land-use strategy to protect the environs, and increase the ground coverage of recreational green areas in the city.

GNIDA issued a public notice on Tuesday for incorporating the revisions in its Master Plan-2021. It has invited suggestions and objections within 15 days. "Through the EMP, we plan to create green spaces, quiet streets, recreational parks and venues for social and cultural activities. The idea is to put into place a comprehensive land use plan that will guide how the city grows over the next 20 years. The EMP was approved in our board meeting recently," PC Gupta, additional CEO of GNIDA, said.

Apart from the green plan, GNIDA also proposes to revise its building bylaws to enhance its per person per hectare density of the planned population of the city. The proposal is to allow an increase in ground coverage in recreational green category of land in the city.

"Once approved by all stakeholders we will allow a ground coverage of 25% instead of the earlier 20% in projects coming up in recreational green areas of Greater Noida," Gupta said. "Considering we have earlier allowed a 0.5 enhancement in floor area ratio (FAR) along the Metro corridors to give realty a boost, there is a corresponding need to increase the ground coverage, which is what we have now revised."

Another amendment in the Master Plan envisages allowing abadi plots for farmers in land parcels other than those designated for residential use. "Following directions of the Supreme Court, GNIDA is supposed to distribute enhanced compensation of 64.7% for land acquired and 10% developed plots in lieu of abadi land to farmers," said Gupta.

"We have started the distribution of enhanced compensation, but since we are falling short of land parcels, it was decided that leaving parks, green belts and commercial areas, all other categories of land use in the zoning plan of 2021 will be amended and used for distribution to farmers. Hence, the board proposed to change the land use in certain pockets of the Master Plan-2021 to accommodate the farmers," he added.

Currently, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is levied at 12 per cent on payments made for under-construction property or ready-to-move-in flats where completion certificate has not been issued at the time of sale.